Our favourite picks for Winter 2010

Must rejoice

For those who want to listen to the sounds of the season or maybe raise their own voices in song, there are plenty of opportunities at carol services and holiday concerts in churches and community halls throughout the hills.

Among the many offerings is the afternoon Christmas Concert in Historic Corbetton Church on the grounds of Dufferin County Museum & Archives. The performers include the Here Comes Treble trio, a barbershop quartet, a flute trio, and the Bells of Westminster, Orangeville’s very charming bell choir. The $15 ticket includes hot cider and Christmas goodies afterward in the museum, where you can also do a little gift shopping at Holiday Treasures, the annual show and sale of art and crafts by local artists.

The concert takes place at 2 pm on Sunday, December 5.
Dufferin County Museum & Archives is located at Airport Road and Hwy 89.
To reserve concert tickets, call 1-877-941-7787. www.dufferinmuseum.com

Must frolic

For the second year in a row, the Alton Mill in Caledon is planning to
help banish the January blues with Fire and Ice – A Family Festival of Flames, Food and Fine Art!

The weekend-long celebration of winter includes a snow sculpture competition, fire-themed artwork, and ice skating and shinny on the millpond.

The magnificently restored heritage mill on the banks of Shaw’s Creek is also home to some thirty artists’ studios and galleries, as well as a friendly café, so if toes grow numb and noses turn red, there’s lots to see and do during indoor warm-up breaks.

This free festival takes place from 10 am to 7 pm on Saturday, January 22, and from 10 am to 5 pm on Sunday, January 23.

For more information, see altonmill.ca.

Must wonder

For many years now the Orangeville Optimists have been transforming Kay Cee Gardens into a winter wonderland of light throughout the month of December. This year, more than 50,000 lights will twinkle on the trees, poles and buildings in the park, and storybook characters will peek from beneath them to delight your youngsters.

It’s a magical experience, and a great way to get the whole family into the holiday spirit. The show runs every evening from 6 to 9 pm, starting December through New Year’s Eve. Hot drinks are available on the weekends. There’s no charge, but donations are welcomed.

Kay Cee Gardens is located between Bythia and John Streets in Orangeville. There is free parking at the Seniors’ Centre on Bythia, across from the park. orangevilleoptimists.ca

Must ring in the New Year

… and ring out the old with a bang! A whole generation of kids has been born since Y2K, and many of them are already old enough to celebrate the end of the first decade of the new millennium. And along with their older brothers and sisters, they can do just that as Orangeville celebrates First Night.

The annual evening of family entertainment moves to a new location this year, the renovated Tony Rose Memorial Sports Centre on Fead St. The indoor and outdoor festivities include a MuchMusic video dance in the arena parking lot, rock wall climbing, free indoor skating and swimming, wagon and sleigh rides, as well as a caricaturist, face painting and live entertainment.

The activities get underway at 6 pm on December 31 and wrap up with a fireworks display at 10 pm. Watch for more details at orangeville.ca.

Must feed the birds

As the brilliant hues of autumn fade, hurray for the birds who bring welcome splashes of life and colour to the greys and whites of the winter hills. The blues of the jays, the roses and yellows of the grosbeaks, the startling scarlet of the cardinals are just some of the colours that brighten the chill landscape. And there is perhaps no cheerier sight than a flock of cheeky chickadees darting to and from the feeder.

Here are two stores where you can find a variety of feeders and stock up on bulk seeds, including special blends for particular species, to entice the birds to the view from your window.

Caledon Mountain Wildlife Supplies
18371 Hurontario St., Caledon Village
(behind Village Bistro) 519-927-3212
For The Birds Nature Store
114 Broadway, Orangeville
519-942-8795

Must get home safely

According to various surveys, the main reason people leave the holiday party and drive home intoxicated is that they don’t want to leave their car behind.

For the second year in a row, a group of Caledon service clubs is offering drivers a guilt-free alternative.

Called Operation Red Nose, the volunteer shuttle service provides motorists who feel unfit to drive – because they’ve been drinking or are just too tired – with a free, safe, confidential ride home in their own vehicle – along with their spouses, kids or guests.

The driver just calls the dispatch number and a volunteer will chauffeur the client to his or her choice of location. The service is free, but donations are welcome and go to support local youth programs. Private party hosts, restaurants and corporate event organizers are all encouraged to use the service. Participating service clubs are the Rotary Clubs of Bolton and Palgrave and the Bolton Lions, with the support of the Bolton Kinsmen and the Knights of Columbus.

Operation Red Nose runs from November 25 to New Year’s Eve, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, 9 pm to 2:30 am

So, before you put on your party shoes this holiday season, key this number into your cell phone:

Operation Red Nose, chauffeur dispatch 905-857-1439

Al Squires is one of the volunteers committed to helping you get home safely this party season. To volunteer your services as a driver, contact volunteer co-ordinator Diane Tolstoy at 905-880-0804, [email protected].